LEIGH'S Plank Lane is earmarked as a leisure map location with a boating marina at the heart of revitalisation plans for the derelict Bickershaw pit site.

And if the marina idea gets off the ground it will have the full backing of MP Andy Burnham who wants future Leigh projects to show ambition and flair.

Mr Burnham believes the Plank Lane area has huge potential as the western gateway to the town and oozes with heritage and interest value.

He believes the marina concept is brilliant and there is huge potential for converting existing buildings in the swing bridge area for leisure use.

"When we are looking at regeneration in the town we should be ambitious. This idea would link with Leigh's proposed Community Stadium and sports village, Bridgewater Business Park and Pennington Flash County Park. There is a thread of sport and a huge potential for increasing quality of life."

This week Wigan councillors have been considering recommendations for part of the pit site which would also involve housing and light industry.

Study

They come from a study carried out for English Partnerships, which manages the National Coalfield Programme, and the North West Development Agency which owns part of the colliery site alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

The Bickershaw site had been put on hold while the ill-fated Xanadu project was determined. Wigan Council figured if Xanadu got the go-ahead at Pennington there could be potential for more enterprise at the opposite end of The Flash.

With the Xanadu complex scuttled by the Secretary of State's planning veto, the Plank Lane site has been scrutinised for redevelopment.

A recently completed study recommends a mixture of marina, housing, and light industry. Now the ideas are likely to be put to public consultation.

But preparations are already being made with work underway on revising the Unitary Development Plan creating a zone for mixed development -- residential, leisure and employment.

On the other side of Plank Lane the rucks and former Albert opencast site -- which are owned by Wigan Council -- are expected to remain within Green Belt classification. This 474 acre 'Bickershaw North' site was last month added to the National Coalfield Programme's multi-million pound funding list.

That reclamation project, added to the marina and mixed development potential on the south side of Plank Lane, have given a massive boost to the Council's plan for a canal based regional park.